...Continued from previous week
1) Fathers [and mothers] are obligated to teach, or hire someone to teach, their sons Torah.
Therefore, many Poskim are of the opinion that one may not pay for the teaching of their son's Torah (i.e. tuition) from Ma'aser money. (Elya Rabbah Orach Chaim Siman 156:2. See also Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 5 Siman 133)
Other Poskim, however, do allow one who is financially strained to use Ma'aser money to pay the tuition for his sons. These Poskim allow this for younger sons (under Bar Mitzvah) as well as for older sons (High school age).
2) If the teacher is a poor person, there is even more reason to allow this practice. (See Rishon L'Tzion from Rav Chaim ben Atar Zatzal Yoreh Deah Siman 249. See also Shu"t Divrei Malkiel Vol. 5 Siman 115)
Being that nowadays when one pays tuition, part of the cost that is paid goes to offset the tuition for those students from poor homes who cannot afford to pay tuition, that portion may be taken from Ma'aser according to all opinions (Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal)
3) One may send his son to a "better" Cheder (elementary school), and pay the difference in price (versus an average, or public Cheder) from Ma'aser.
Since the obligation of a father is only to teach his son "Mikrah - the written Torah", many Poskim who disallow using Ma'aser for elementary school tuition, do in fact allow using Ma'aser money for High school (Mesivta) tuition as in High School they are already learning "Torah Sh'Baal Peh- the oral Torah" (Shulchan Aruch HaRav Hilchos Talmud Torah Perek 1:7. See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 245 and see also Orchos Rabbeinu from the Steipler Zatzal Vol. 1 page 298 and page 301)
However, some Poskim maintain that if one isn't financially strained, he should refrain from using Ma'aser money even for High school tuition.
4) The Poskim maintain that since part of tuition is to cover the cost of food, room and board, the amount that would have been spent on these items had the child been at home should be calculated, and that part of the tuition should not be taken from Ma'aser. (Tzedaka U'Mishpat Chapter 6:35)
5) According to some Poskim, paying tuition for girls' education from Ma'aser money is allowed, as there is no obligation to teach or hire someone to teach your daughters Torah. (Opinion of Dayan Weiss Zatzal in Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 10 Siman 85. See also Shu"t Teshuvos V'hanhagos from Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita Vol. 1 Siman 560 and 561)
Others, however, maintain that in places where girls' [elementary school] education is mandatory by law [as it is in the USA], thus it is an obligation on parents to send their daughters to Torah schools (so as not to be forced to place them in Public schools) and the tuition may not be paid from Ma'aser money. (Opinion of Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal in Igros Moshe Y"D Vol. 2 Siman 113 and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal in Emes L'Yaakov Y"D Siman 249)
6) Using Ma'aser money for tuition for older daughters for their seminary education, which isn't obligatory on a father, is acceptable. (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal ibid. This was also the opinion of the Steipler Zatzal)
Regarding using Ma'aser money to pay for a daughter's college education, where the purpose of her education is to be able to learn the skills necessary to support a husband that will learn in Kollel, a Rav should be consulted.
7) Although we discussed many "other" Mitzvah uses for which Ma'aser money may be used, it is important to remember that the "ideal" use for Ma'aser money is for poor people. (Ram"a Yoreh Deah Siman 249, based on Talmud Yerushalmi Peah Perek 1)
Therefore, all the other permitted uses for Ma'aser should be used sporadically, and one should definitely not use a whole year's worth of Ma'aser money on things other than poor people. (Psak of Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal. See also the strong words of the Steipler Zatzal about one who uses too much of his/her Ma'aser money for other purposes in Kreina D'Igresa Vol. 2 Letter 126)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
